Velocipede and the like



May 20 1924. 1,494,364

w. L. 'M GRATH VELOGIPEDE AND THE LIKE Filed ADlil 2'7 I922 2 SheetSSheet 1 Patented May 2%, l l.

rer ce.

WILLIAM L. I'LCGBATH, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE MACHINECOM- PANY, OF ELMIBA, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION NEVJ YORK.

VELOCIPEDE AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 27, 1922. Serial No. 556,939,

10 all whom it may concemt:

lie it known that l, l VILLIAM L. Mo-

lhmrrr, a citizen of the United States of America. and a resident ofElmira, New York, have invented new and useful lnr provements inVelocipedes and the like, which invention is fully set forth in thefollowing specification.

This invention relates to vehicles, such as teiocipedes and the like ofthe threewheeled type commonly used by children.

It is a fact that velocipedes of this type, when turning corners, veryreadily'upset, which fact frequently results in injury to the rider. Itis common practice, when turning a corner on a two-wheeled velocipede,to counteract the centrifugal tendency to upset by tilting the vehicleso as to bring the center of gravity of rider and machine to a pointwhere the force of gravity overcomes the centrifugal force. In thisinstance, the vehiclehas a single supporting plane, extending in thedirection of the line of travel. through the two supporting wheels. Thecylindrical tires practically give a line support and tilting may bereadily and safely effected.

A motor cycle, with side-car attachech'has two parallel supportingplanes, and a low center of gravity. If the. side-car is rigidlyattached on the left, the rider, in making a right-hand turn, canreadily tilt the vehicle to counteract centrifugal force, about the lineof support passing through the two tracking wheels. Since he is unableto tilt his machine for a lefthand turn with this arrangement, a pivotalconnection has heretofore been devised whereby the rider can tilt themachine in either direction. In this case, however, the vehicle issupported in two parallel planes extending approximately in thedirection of travel, and danger of upsetting is minimized. The problempresented by the motor cycle and side-car, regardless of the type ofside-car connection, is thus the same as that of the twowheeledvelocipede. p

The three-wheeled velocipede, on the other hand, is supported in threeparallel planes passing through each of the three whee-ls. If the riderwishes to tilt this type of vehicle to counteract centrifugal force,when making a sharp turn to the right for example,

rection of movement, withthe result that the vehicle pivots about theline of support and upsets. The triangular arrangement of the supportingwheels of a childs velocipede thus prevents the rider from tilting thistype of vehicle when turning, and the unopposed centrifugal force oftenresults in a fall; and it the velocipede is supplied with a brake, andmany are thus equipped, application of thebrake, at the timeof turning acorner, still further increases the tendency to upset, so that theliability to overturning and possible injury is greatly increased.

The object of the present invention is to provide a. three-wheeleddevice withmeans such that the rider will, with the same facility aswith a two-wheeled device and with the minimum of danger to upsetting,naturally and instinctively oppose the force of gravity in opposition tothe upsetting tendency ot' centrifugal force, when the velocipede isturned sharply; the vehicle being normally and automatically maintainedin an upright position when ridden in a straight course. Said automaticmeans insure its stable static equilibrium when standing-alone or with arider. 7 7

In order that the invention maybe more readily understood, reference ismade to the accompai'iying drawings whichare designed merely asillustrations to assist in the description of the invention, and not asdefining the limits thereof.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a velocipede embodyingthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of a portion of the device;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of 2;

Fig. 4c is a modification;

Fig. 5 is a. rear elevation,partly in sec- The momentum, however,

tion, illustrating another embodiment of the connection between the mainframe and the rear wheels;

Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, taken on the line- G6 ofFig. 5. I I

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate likeparts, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, 1 designates therear velocipede wheels of auv desired construction which are rotativelymounted on the opposite ends of an axle 2.

Attached to the axle is an inverted, substantially U-shaped cross-beamor transverse member 3. A main frame t, bifurcated at the rear endthereof, is pivotally secured to the transverse member by a pivot pin 5,

the bifurcation orfork 8 at the rear end of the frame loosely engagingthe axle 2. The frame carries a driving wheel 6 and steering member 7mounted in any wellknownnianner at its forward end.- Oppositely disposedyielding or elastic members 9 extend between the fork 8 and adjust ablecollars 10 on the rear axle. The axle and collars may be threaded. ifdesired, in order that the collars may be adjusted to differentpositions to vary the compression of elastic members 9. The rider isthus able to vary, at will, the resistance which he wishes the elasticmembers to offer to a tilting force. It is to be noted that thedisposition of the elastic members 9 will so limit the arcuate movementof the fork 8 along the axle that accidental disengagement of this forkfrom the axle is prevented. Seat 12 is secured to the frame in anywell-known manner.

By thus hinging the frame to the transverse member carrving therear-wheels, the

rider can tilt the frame, together with the front wheel (and willnaturally and instinctively do so), to counteract the centrifugal forceencountered when turning a corner, thereby avoiding upsetting andconsequent injury. ,This tiltingis resisted resiliently by the yieldingor elastic members 9 so that, normally, the vehicle maintains an uprightposition. i

In Fig. 4. is shown a modification of the inventive idea, wherein themain frame 13 is pivoted directly to the rear axle 14: by means of apivot member 15 extending through registering openings in the axle andframe. Yielding members 16, pivotally secured at one end to the frameand at the opposite end to the axle, normally maintain the frame in anupright position. These members comprise telescoping elements 17 and 18adapted to freelv move onewithin the other, according to the directionin which the rider wishes to turn. In the embodiment shown, coiledsprings, 19, surround the tele scoping elements and normally maintainthe the lower end of frame 31.

hers 9 (Fig. 2) may or may not be used to embodiment of the inventiveidea in which the main frame 31 is pivoted by means of pin in a sleevepositioned on cross bar 25 which is mounted on rear axle 2. Thisarrangei'nent is quite similar to that illus trated in Fig. 3, thedifference being that frame 31 instead of being pivoted directly tothe'cross-bar 3 is pivoted to the strap or sleeve 33 which surroundssaid cross-bar. Any effort of the rider to tilt frame 31 and the frontwheel is resiliently resisted by a plunger 3i yieldably held in adepression 85 in the rear astl by means of an elastic member 36positioned in a socket 3? formed in Resilient memassist spring-pressedplunger 3- 1 to yieldablv resisttilting of the frontwheel and frame. In.case the rider wishes to positively lock the frame in upright position,an hshaped pin 38 maybe n'iovably mounted in plunger 34:, with itsopposite ends extending into slots 39 in the frame. By revolving thispin until the short arm thereof is moved into its adjacent slot, theplunger is locked against movement in depression 35 and the rider willbe unable to tilt the front wheel and frame. This is desirable when achild is learning to ride and has not yet learned to balance himself.

For the purpose of clearness, several embodiments of the inventive ideahave been herein shown and described. in detail, but it is to beexpressly understood that this inventive idea is capable of beingembodied in a variety of mechanical structures within the limits of theappended claims, and particularly is it to be understood that theinvention may be used on three-wheeled vehicles other than velocipedes,said claims being intended to cover three-wheeled structures providedwith means for safely counteracting the upsetting tendency ofcentrifugal force by opposing tl e force of gravity with the samefacility as in two-wheeled structures] lVhat is claimed is 1. In adevice of the class described, a transverse member, a frame providedwith a bifurcation at one end thereof, a wheeled axle extending looselythrough said bifurcation and having engagement with said member, and aplurality of horizontally disposed yielding members reacting betweensaid bifurcated end and said axle.

2. In a device of the class described, a transverse member, a framehaving a fork on the rear end thereof, a wheeled axle extending throughsaid fork and having engagement with said member. and means whereby saidframe may be tilted longitudinally of said axle.

3. In a three wheeled vehicle, an axle, a. frame pivoted with relationto the axle so as to permit arcuate movement of the rear end of theframe along the axle, and means for limiting said movement.

4. In a velocipede, a front wheel, mechanism carrying a pair of rearwheels, a frame connecting said front wheel and mechanism, yieldingmeans carried by said mechanism, means whereby said frame and wheel maybe tilted against the tension of said yielding means, and means forvarying the resistance offered by said yielding means.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of non-tiltablerear wheels supporting the rear end of said frame, a front wheelsupporting the forward end of said frame and positioned in a verticalplane equidistant from each of said rear wheels, means whereby saidfront wheel may be tilted from said plane, and means whereby-theresistance to tilting of said front wheel may be varied.

6. A device of the class described, com: prising a frame bifurcated atthe rear end thereof, a wheeled axle extending through said bifurcation,means pivotally connecting said frame and axle whereby said bifur catedend may be moved in an arcuate path parallel to said axle, and yieldingmeans for resisting movement of said frame.

7. In a device of the class described, a wheeled axle, a framebifurcated at the rear end thereof and pivotally secured to said axle,said axle being adapted to extend through said bifurcation, and meansfor limiting arcuate movement of said bifurcation.

8. In a device of the class described, a wheeled axle, a transversemember mounted on said axle, a frame having a bifurcation one endthereof, said frame being pivotally connected to said member, said axlebeing adapted to extend through said hifurcation, and yielding. membersfor resisting arcuate movement of said bifurcated end in eitherdirection.

9. In a device of the class described, a transverse member, a framehaving a fork on the rear end thereof and tiltably secured to saidmember, a wheeled axle extending through said fork, and a pair of coilsprings mounted on said axle and positioned to resist tilting movementof said frame.

10. In a three wheeled vehicle, a rear axle, a pair of wheels rotatablymounted on the opposite ends of said axle, a frame pivotally connectedto said rear axle, a front wheel supporting the forward end of saidframe, and a pair of coil springs, said springs being positioned onopposite sides of said frame and operatively engaging said frame andaxle for resisting pivotal movement of said frame.

11. In a three Wheeled vehicle, a rear axle, a pair of collars mountedon said axle, a frame having a fork on the rear end thereof and tiltablysecured to said axle, the latter being adapted to extend loosely throughsaid fork, and yielding means engaging said collars and fork forresisting tilting movement of said frame.

12.111 a device of the class described, a wheeled axle, a frame havingpivotal connection with said axle and having a free end, means forlimiting arcuate movement of said free end, and means for locking saidframe in upright position.

13. In a device of the class described, a wheeled axle, a frame havingpivotal connection with said axle and having a free rear end, and meansfor locking said frame in upright position.

14. In a three wheeled vehicle, a wheeled axle, a frame having pivotalconnection with said axle, and a pair of coil springs positioned one oneither side of said frame and operatively engaging said frame and axlefor resisting pivotal movement of said frame.

15. In a wheeled vehicle, a rear axle, a frame having pivotal connectionwith said axle and having a free rear end, means carried by said freeend for locking the latter to said axle, and means for resisting arcuatemovement of said free end.

16. In a Wheeled vehicle, a rear axle, a frame having pivotal connectionintermediate its ends with said axle, the free rear end of said framebeing divided and said axle being adapted to extend between the branchesof said divided portion, and yielding means for limiting the movement ofsaid free end.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

WILLIAM L. MCGRATH.

